Letter to the Editor: Gun control for the common good

There are 300 plus million guns in the U.S. today. There are 38,000 deaths by gun and about one-third of these are homicides. Yet there is a debate about whether more gun control would be effective in reducing gun violence. Logic would dictate that fewer guns equal fewer deaths. You don’t believe that is true? Consider, if there were only 100,000 guns in the U.S., would there be fewer gun deaths? Still not convinced? Look at England or other countries with a limited number of guns. Those countries have very few gun deaths.

The gun control measures that are now being considered would not eliminate nor would they reduce the gun violence by a great margin, I fear, but a few lives would be saved. If only one of those little children at Newtown had been saved it would be worth it. If you, the reader do not believe this is worthwhile, I invite you to imagine the children in Newtown.

The measures being considered would not affect sportsmen in hunting activities nor marksmen in recreational shooting. I own several long guns and none of them will hold more than five rounds. I understand some recreational shooters like magazines holding more rounds, but we in a civilized society must give up some personal liberty for the common good. That is the reason we have speed limits and other restraints on our personal freedoms.